Keyhole communication device for tracking and monitoring shipping container and contents thereof

ABSTRACT

A shipping container that facilitates communications between wireless communication devices within the shipping container and an external network includes a keyhole communication device that is adapted for wireless communications with the external network and that includes first and second housing components. The first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through a small opening in a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component being disposed exterior to the shipping container and the second housing component being disposed interior to the shipping container. A first antenna is disposed within the first housing component for communications via a first communications protocol, such as a Bluetooth protocol. A second antenna also may be disposed within the first housing component for communications via a second communications protocol, such as a cellular communications protocol. The communications are controlled by electronic circuitry within the second housing component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. patent application (“U.S. patent application Ser. No.”)is a continuation of, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to,Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,764 filed Jan. 10,2006, which is a nonprovisional patent application of, and claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to, each of the following, each ofwhich is expressly incorporated by reference herein:

(01) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/596,930, titled“Determining Relative Elevation Using GPS and Ranging”;

(02) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/642,632, titled“Tracking and Monitoring Shipping Container and Content Thereof”;

(03) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/687,073, titled“Network Aided Terrestrial Triangulation Using Stars (NAATS)”;

(04) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/687,415, titled“Class-Based Soft Hand-Off in Wireless Communications”;

(05) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/691,574, titled“Event-Driven Mobile Hazmat Monitoring”;

(06) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/691,718, titled“Remote Sensor Interface (RSI) Having Power Conservative Transceiver forTransmitting and Receiving Signals”;

(07) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/691,884, titled“Remote Sensor Interface (RSI) Stepped Wake-Up Sequence”;

(08) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/696,159, titled“Nondeterministic and Deterministic Network Routing”;

(09) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/709,204, titled“Pipeline Monitoring”; and

(10) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/719,061, titled“Pipeline Monitoring”;

The present application further expressly incorporates by reference eachof the following patent properties:

(01) Twitchell U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027;

(02) Twitchell U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,540;

(03) Twitchell USPA Publication No. 2005/0093702;

(04) Twitchell USPA Publication No. 2005/0093703;

(05) Twitchell USPA Publication No. 2005/0215280;

(06) Twitchell Int'l Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/032501 A2;

(07) Twitchell Int'l Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1;

(08) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,539;

(09) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,540;

(10) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,542;

(11) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,545;

(12) Twitchell U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,550;

(13) Twitchell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/688,737; and

(14) Twitchell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/595,233.

Additionally, the present application expressly incorporates byreference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,753,775 B2; 6,665,585 B2; 5,458,042; U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0183673 A1; and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2004/0021572 A1.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to tracking and/or monitoringassets that are stored and/or transported in shipping containers and, inparticular, to facilitating communications for tracking and/ormonitoring assets that are stored and/or transported in shippingcontainers at a level of tracking and/or monitoring that is at or belowthat of the shipping container.

The ISO standard maritime and intermodal containers are ubiquitous andthe primary means of shipping goods internationally to and from theUnited States. The container technology is a mature and well establishedpractice with over 16 million containers worldwide. This in-placeinfrastructure represents billions of dollars in capital for shippersand terminal operators, most of which is designed to handle andtransport the standardized ISO container.

In the last decade, and with increased emphasis following the passage ofthe Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Department of HomelandSecurity has devoted considerable resources toward securing maritimecargo. Indeed, container tracking and sensor monitoring have taken onadded importance with the realization that a container shipped into theUS could cause severe damage if a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) wereto be smuggled therein. Programs that have been initiated includeOperation Safe Commerce, the Container Security Initiative, C-TPAT, andthe Smart Container initiative. The development continues with programssuch as the Advanced Container Security Device and the AutomatedCommercial Environment. Unfortunately, all of these programs suffer froma lack of granularity in the level of tracking and monitoring provided.More specifically, none of the contemplated security and informationsystems are being designed to track or monitor a unit any smaller thantoday's ISO container. It is believed that a better system would includetracking and/or monitoring not only of such shipping containers as awhole, but the individual assets within such shipping containers aswell.

Accordingly, in furtherance of the protection and security ofinternational and national commerce, and in the interests of U.S.national security, one or more preferred embodiments of the presentinvention is intended to facilitate communications for tracking and/ormonitoring of assets that are stored and/or transported within the ISOstandard maritime and intermodal container, i.e., to provide visibilityat a granularity below that of merely tracking or monitoring theshipping container itself. In this respect, one or more preferredembodiments of the present invention facilitates the tracking and/or themonitoring of not only the shipping container, but the contents withinthe container as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes many aspects and features.

In an aspect of the invention, a shipping container is equipped tofacilitate wireless communications between one or more wirelesscommunication devices within the shipping container and a network thatis external to the shipping container. The shipping container includes:a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and acommunication device, adapted for wireless communications with theexternal network, that includes a first housing component and a secondhousing component. The first housing component is disposed substantiallyexterior to the wall structure of the shipping container, and the secondhousing component is disposed substantially interior to the wallstructure of the shipping container. Furthermore, the first and secondhousing components together form an integrated housing structure thatextends through a small opening in the wall structure of the shippingcontainer. Because the communication device physically extends throughthe small opening of the shipping container, it is sometimes referred tohereinbelow as a “keyhole” communication device.

Additionally, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, thekeyhole communication device includes a first antenna disposed withinthe first housing component and first electronic circuitry disposedwithin the second housing and connected to the first antenna. The firstelectronic circuitry is adapted to control signal reception andtransmission via the first antenna for communications with the externalnetwork and for communications with the wireless communication deviceswithin the shipping container. Furthermore, the small opening in thewall structure of the shipping container preferably includes a diameterthat is between about one-quarter to one full wavelength of the signalsthat are transmitted and received by the first antenna under the controlof the first circuitry.

In a feature of this aspect, the first antenna comprises an antenna thatis adapted for communications within the 2.4 GHz band such as, forexample, an antenna adapted for Bluetooth or WiFi communications.

In another feature, the communication device further includes a GPSreceiver disposed within the second housing component and a patchantenna for the GPS receiver disposed within the first housingcomponent.

In other features of this aspect, the first electronic circuitryincludes a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) for waking up a standards-basedradio of the keyhole communication device; and the first electroniccircuitry includes tag turn on (TTO) electronics for causing a tag turnon circuit (TTOC) of another communication device to wake up astandards-based radio of the other communication device.

In another feature, the first electronic circuitry is adapted forcommunication with one or more wireless tags (WTs), the WTs beingassociated with assets disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer.

In still yet another feature, the first electronic circuitry isconfigured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, aclass-based network, wherein at least some of the other communicationdevices are disposed exterior to the shipping container.

In another feature, the first electronic circuitry is configured toform, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-basednetwork, wherein at least some of the other communication devices beingdisposed within the interior of the shipping container.

In another feature, the shipping container further includes at least onesensor disposed about the shipping container, and the first electroniccircuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor foracquiring data there from. The interface may be via wirelesscommunication or a direct wired connection.

In still yet another feature, the wall structure of the shippingcontainer includes a static wall structure and at least one access door,and the keyhole communication device is disposed on the static wallstructure and not on the at least one access door.

In another feature of this aspect, a second antenna is disposed withinthe second housing component and second electronic circuitry isconnected to the second antenna that is adapted to control signalreception and transmission via the second antenna for additionalcommunications with an external network and/or wireless communicationdevices within the area of the shipping container. With regard to thisfeature, the first electronic circuitry and the second electroniccircuitry are disposed substantially within the second housingcomponent. In a contemplated alternative, the first electronic circuitryand the second electronic circuitry are disposed substantially withinthe first housing component. In yet another contemplated alternative,the first electronic circuitry is disposed substantially within thefirst housing component and the second electronic circuitry is disposedsubstantially within the second housing component. With additionalregard to this feature, the second antenna may comprise an antenna thatis adapted, for example, for satellite communications or cellularcommunications. Alternatively, the first antenna comprises an antennathat is adapted, for example, for WiFi communications, WiMAXcommunications or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) communications.

In another aspect of the invention, a shipping container equipped forexternal communications via a wireless network includes: a wallstructure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and akeyhole communication device, adapted for wireless externalcommunication, that includes a first housing component and a secondhousing component. The first housing component contains a first antennaand a second antenna therein and the second housing component containsan electronics assembly for controlling receptions and transmissions ofthe first antenna and the second antenna. Additionally, the firsthousing component is mounted on an exterior portion of the wallstructure and is disposed substantially exterior to the shippingcontainer, and the second housing component is mounted on an interiorportion of the wall structure, proximate the first housing component,and is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container.Furthermore, the first antenna is adapted for wireless communicationexternal to the shipping container and the second antenna is adapted forwireless communication internal to the shipping container.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, a shipping containerequipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communicationsincludes: a wall structure for receiving and containing items to beshipped; and a wireless keyhole communication device that includes afirst housing component and a second housing component. The firsthousing component is disposed substantially exterior to the walls of theshipping container, and the second housing component is disposedsubstantially interior to the walls of the shipping container. The firstand second housing components together form an integrated housingstructure that extends through an opening in the wall structure of theshipping container. Furthermore, the keyhole communication deviceincludes an antenna disposed within the first housing component andelectronic circuitry connected to the antenna that is adapted tofacilitate signal transmission via the antenna. Moreover, the opening inthe wall of the shipping container includes a diameter of betweenone-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagneticwaves used to wirelessly communicate via the antenna, whereby internaland external wireless communications via the antenna are therebyfacilitated.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, a network includes aplurality of wireless keyhole communication devices of shippingcontainers of one or more of the aforementioned aspects. Additionally,the network may comprise a common designation network, such as aclass-based network.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of facilitatingwireless communications between one or more wireless communicationdevices within a shipping container and a network that is external tothe shipping container includes the steps of: disposing a wirelesskeyhole communication device on a shipping container such that a firsthousing component of the keyhole communication device is disposed on theexterior of the shipping container and a second housing component of thekeyhole communication device is disposed within the interior of theshipping container, wherein the first and second housing componentstogether form an integrated housing structure that extends through anopening of the shipping container, wherein the keyhole communicationdevice is adapted for wireless communications with one or more wirelesscommunication devices disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer, and wherein the keyhole communication device is adapted forwireless communications with a network that is external to the shippingcontainer; wirelessly communicating between the keyhole communicationdevice disposed on the shipping container and the one or more wirelesscommunication devices disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer; and wirelessly communicating between the keyholecommunication device disposed on the shipping container and the networkthat is external to the shipping container.

In features of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposed onthe shipping container is disposed on a wall of the shipping container,and the integrated housing structure extends through an opening in thewall of the shipping container.

In another feature of this aspect, the method further includes the stepof disposing a sealing ring on the wall of the shipping container forsealing of the opening in the wall of the shipping container throughwhich the integrated housing structure extends.

In yet another a feature of this aspect, the opening in the wall of theshipping container includes a diameter of between one-quarter and onefull wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used towirelessly communicate between the keyhole communication device disposedon the shipping container and the one or more wireless communicationdevices disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the frequency of the wirelesslycommunications between the keyhole communication device disposed on theshipping container and the one or more wireless communication devicesdisposed within the interior of the shipping container is within the 2.4GHz band.

In other, alternative features of this aspect, the wall comprises a sidewall of the shipping container; a top wall of the shipping container; abottom wall of the shipping container; and a wall of an access door ofthe shipping container. Preferably, the wall comprises a side wall,which configuration is believed to afford greater protection for thehousing of the keyhole communication device than the other contemplatedlocations on the shipping container.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, a shipping container thatfacilitates wireless communications between one or more wirelesscommunication devices within an interior thereof and a network that isexternal thereto includes a wireless keyhole communication device thatis disposed on the shipping container such that a first housingcomponent of the keyhole communication device is disposed on theexterior of the shipping container and a second housing component of thekeyhole communication device is disposed within the interior of theshipping container.

In accordance with this aspect, the first and second housing componentstogether form an integrated housing structure that extends through anopening of the shipping container; the keyhole communication device isadapted for wireless communications with one or more wirelesscommunication devices disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer; and the keyhole communication device is adapted for wirelesscommunications with a network that is external to the shippingcontainer.

In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component of the keyholecommunication device disposed on the shipping container includes anantenna for communications with the network that is external to theshipping container. The antenna may comprises an antenna adapted forremote communications including, for example, satellite, WiMAX, UWB, orcellular communications.

In another feature of this aspect, the first housing component of thekeyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container includesa GPS receiver, and the first housing component of the keyholecommunication device disposed on the shipping container includes a patchantenna disposed in electronic communication with the GPS receiver.

In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component of the keyholecommunication device disposed on the shipping container includes anantenna for communications with the one or more wireless communicationdevices disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

In another feature of this aspect, at least one of the wirelesscommunication devices disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer comprises a remote sensor interface (RSI). With regard to thisfeature, the RSI may be disposed in electronic communication with atleast one sensor and is adapted to communicatively interface with the atleast one sensor via wireless communication or via a direct wiredconnection. The sensor may comprises, for example, a temperature sensor,a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a radiation sensor, a video camera,a still camera, an electronic seal sensor, and/or a microphone.

In another feature of this aspect, at least one of the wirelesscommunication devices disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer comprises a wireless tag reader (WT reader). With regard tothis feature, assets disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainer may include radiofrequency identification tags (RFID tags or“WTs”) associated therewith, and a remote sensor interface (RSI) maycomprise a WT reader.

In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposedon the shipping container comprises a WT reader and the one or morewireless communication devices disposed within the interior of theshipping container comprise one or more WTs associated with assetswithin the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposedon the shipping container is disposed, itself, in electroniccommunication with at least one sensor.

In a feature of this aspect, the network exterior to the shippingcontainer comprises wireless communication devices, each of which isdisposed on a respective shipping container.

In other features of this aspect, the network exterior to the shippingcontainer comprises a wide area network (WAN) that includes Internetcommunications, cellular communications, and/or satellitecommunications.

In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and secondhousing components are separately formed but are adapted to be securedtogether. In this regard, the first and second housing components mayinclude correspondingly-threaded fittings adapted to be screwedtogether. Furthermore, the electronics assembly may include firstelectrical contacts disposed in the first housing component and secondelectrical contacts disposed in the second housing component, whereinthe first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected toone another when the first housing component is secured to the secondhousing component.

In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and secondhousing components are integrally formed.

In yet another feature of this aspect, the first and second housingcomponents are formed from a material that does not significantly impedetransmission of RF energy.

In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and secondhousing components have external configurations adapted to conform torespective surface contours of the shipping container.

In another feature of this aspect, the shipping container comprises anISO intermodal shipping container.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a communication device forattaching to a shipping container. The communication device includes anelectronics assembly, including an antenna, for wireless communication;a first housing component, containing the antenna, that is adapted to bemounted on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that the firsthousing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shippingcontainer and substantially surrounds an opening in the wall of theshipping container; and a second housing component adapted to be mountedon an interior wall of the shipping container, proximate the firsthousing component, such that the second housing is disposedsubstantially interior to the shipping container and substantiallysurrounds the opening in the wall of the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component defines a firsthollow interior, wherein the second housing component defines a secondhollow interior, and wherein the first hollow interior is contiguouswith the second hollow interior via the opening in the wall of theshipping container.

In another aspect of the invention, a communication device for attachingto a shipping container includes: an electronics assembly, includingfirst and second antennas and circuitry connecting the first and secondantennas together, for wireless communication; a first housingcomponent, containing the first and second antennas, that is adapted tobe mounted on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that thefirst housing component is disposed substantially exterior to theshipping container; and a second housing component, containing theelectronic circuitry for controlling transmissions and receptions by thefirst and the second antennas, that is adapted to be mounted on aninterior wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housingcomponent, such that the second housing is disposed substantiallyinterior to the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the first antenna is adapted for wirelesscommunication external to the shipping container and the second antennais adapted for wireless communication internal to the shippingcontainer.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, a method of attaching acommunication device to a shipping container includes the steps of:providing a communication device, adapted for wireless externalcommunication, that includes a first housing component and a secondhousing component, the first housing containing an antenna; positioningthe first housing component exterior to the shipping container;positioning the second housing component interior to the shippingcontainer; and securing the first housing component and the secondhousing component together through the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the step of positioning the first housingcomponent includes positioning the first housing component such that anexternal configuration thereof conforms to an external surfaceconfiguration of the wall of the shipping container, and the step ofpositioning the second housing component includes positioning the secondhousing component such that an external configuration thereof conformsto an internal surface configuration of the wall of the shippingcontainer such that the first and second housing components areprotected within recesses of the shipping container.

In another feature of this aspect, the method further includes thepreliminary step of forming an opening in the wall of the shippingcontainer through which the first and second housing components aresecured together. With regard to this feature, the step of forming theopening in the wall of the shipping container may include forming theopening with a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength,inclusive, of radiofrequency waves used to communicate within a 2.4 GHzband.

In an aspect of the invention, a method of attaching a communicationdevice to a shipping container includes steps of: providing acommunication device, adapted for wireless external communication, thatincludes a first housing component and a second housing component, thefirst housing containing an antenna; mounting the first housingcomponent on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that thefirst housing component is disposed substantially exterior to theshipping container and substantially surrounds an opening in the wall ofthe container; and mounting the second housing component on an interiorwall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component,such that the second housing component is disposed substantiallyinterior to the shipping container and substantially surrounds theopening in the wall of the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the step of mounting the first housingcomponent includes mounting the first housing component such that thefirst housing component defines a first hollow interior, wherein thestep of mounting the second housing component includes mounting thesecond housing component such that the second housing component definesa second hollow interior and such that the first hollow interior iscontiguous with the second hollow interior via the opening in the wallof the shipping container.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method of attaching acommunication device to a shipping container. The method includes thesteps of: providing a communication device, adapted for wirelessexternal communication, that includes a first housing component and asecond housing component, the first housing containing a first antennaand a second antenna; mounting the first housing component on anexterior wall of the shipping container such that the first housingcomponent is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container;and mounting the second housing component on an interior wall of theshipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that thesecond housing component is disposed substantially interior to theshipping container. The second housing component includes circuitry forcontrolling transmissions and receptions of the first antenna and thesecond antenna.

In a feature of this aspect, the method further includes the steps of:communicating wirelessly, via the first antenna, with communicationdevices external to the shipping container; and communicatingwirelessly, via the second antenna, with communication devices internalto the shipping container.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method for tracking and/ormonitoring contents of an ISO intermodal shipping container. The methodincludes the steps of: wirelessly communicating, by a keyholecommunication device attached to the shipping container, via a firstantenna that is disposed within a first housing component of thecommunication device, with one or more communication devices within theinterior of the shipping container; and wirelessly communicating, by thekeyhole communication device attached to the shipping container, with anetwork external to the shipping container, the wireless communicationsincluding information relating to the tracking and/or the monitoring ofthe contents of the shipping container. In accordance with this aspect,the first and second housing components are secured together through awall of the shipping container, with the first housing componentresiding substantially within the interior of the shipping container andwith the second housing component residing substantially exterior to theshipping container. The wireless communications are controlled bycircuitry within the second housing component of the keyholecommunication device.

In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communications devicecommunicates to the external network via a second antenna that isdisposed within the first housing component of the keyhole communicationdevice.

In a feature of this aspect, each communication device is associatedwith one or more respective contents of the shipping container, and theinformation relates, respectively, to the respective tracking and/or themonitoring of the contents of the shipping container.

In a feature of this aspect, the method also includes the step ofsending a message to the keyhole communication device attached to theshipping container that results in the keyhole communication devicesending a message to the communication devices within the interior ofthe shipping container. The message that is sent to the communicationdevices within the interior of the shipping container further may resultin at least one of the communication devices sending a message to thekeyhole communication device and, further, the sending, in responsethereto, of a message from the keyhole communication device to theexternal network.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the invention,it should be noted that the invention further includes the variouspossible combinations of such aspects and features, including thecombinations of such aspects and features with those aspects andfeatures of the incorporated references from which priority is claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the invention now will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are for thepurpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of theinvention and are not intended to be to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a shipping port in which a conventionalasset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a warehouse in which a conventional assetmonitoring and/or tracking system is utilized.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a shipping port in which an assetmonitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shippingcontainers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto inaccordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a warehouse in which an asset monitoringand/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers withkeyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with thepreferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of thenetwork-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISOshipping container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating an alternative implementation ofthe network-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISOshipping container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another implementation of thenetwork-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISOshipping container in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side cross-sectional views of a keyhole communicationdevice for attaching to a shipping container in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-9D are block diagrams of several alternative arrangements ofthe elements of the electronics assembly in a keyhole communicationdevice, illustrating the relative disposition of the elements therein.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are side elevational views of additional keyholecommunication devices for attaching to shipping containers in accordancewith other preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodimentdiscussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be partof a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention.Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrativepurposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the presentinvention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosedby the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention,which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded thepresent invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitationfound herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by theappended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term-differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent likecomponents throughout the several views, preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are next described. The following description ofpreferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a shipping port in which a conventionalasset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized, and FIG. 2 is anillustration of a warehouse in which a conventional asset monitoringand/or tracking system is utilized. Both the shipping port and warehouseillustrations include the use of shipping containers 102, such as, forexample, ISO standard maritime and intermodal containers. In many suchenvironments, highway-only trailers 100 also are utilized.

The conventional asset monitoring and/or tracking systems of FIGS. 1 and2 each utilizes wireless tag readers 40, located within the highwaytrailers 100 and shipping containers 102, for reading wireless tagsand/or for receiving sensor acquired data from sensors within orassociated with the highway trailers 100 and shipping containers 102 inaccordance with the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2,International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/032501 A2(designating the United States and published in English), andInternational Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1(designating the United States and published in English), each of whichhas been incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, the term“wireless tag” (“WT”) refers to a wireless transceiver that isassociated with an asset to be tracked. WTs can be, for example,passive, active, or semi-passive, but preferably each WT is asemi-passive transceiver. Also as used herein, the term “wireless tagreader” (“WT reader”) refers to a wireless transceiver that generally isused to read WTs. WT readers can be, for example, passive, active, orsemi-passive, but preferably each WT reader is an active transceiver. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, highway trailers 100 and shippingcontainers 102 and the contents thereof may be tracked using WTs,sensors, WT readers and the principles described in the above-mentionedpatent references.

In particular, as described in these patent references, gateways 50(sometimes referred to as “gateway controllers” or “GC”) are mounted inspaced relation to each other and connected together to a server-basedapplication 106 via a wide area network (WAN) 112, which may include,for example, the Internet. The gateways 50 are used to wirelesslycommunicate with and obtain information from the WT readers 40 accordingto principles well disclosed in the references. The wirelesscommunications preferably comprise radiofrequency communications whosetransmissions are within the 2.4 GHz band, such as Bluetoothcommunications or WiFi communications.

Additionally, mobile gateways 51 are illustrated on the trucks pullingthe containers 102 and trailers 100 and include satellitecommunications, whereby communications may be passed through the mobilegateways 51 between the WT readers 40 and the server-based application106, even during transportation of the shipping containers 102 andhighway trailers 100 in remote areas. As shown, the mobile gateways 51are mounted on the cabs of the trucks and preferably are powered by theelectrical systems of the trucks for communications with the WT readers40 via, for example, Bluetooth communications, as well as forcommunication with the WAN 112 via satellite communications. The mobilegateways 51 further may include cellular communication capabilities,WiFi capabilities, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) capabilities and/or WiMAXcapabilities in addition to, or in substitution for, the satellitecommunication capabilities for communications with the WAN 112.

A drawback to the systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that communicationswith WT readers 40 disposed within the trailers 100 and shippingcontainers 102, both by the gateways 50 and the mobile gateways 51, canbe degraded due to the construction materials of the walls of thetrailers 100 and shipping containers 102, which often are made of steelor an alloy thereof. Such materials reduce the range and effectivenessof radiofrequency communication, which is the preferred mode ofcommunication with the WT readers 40. This problem furthermore isaggravated when maritime shipping containers 102 are stacked duringstorage and transportation. Although less of an issue, a similar problemexists when conventional highway trailers 100 are closely parkedtogether in trucking depots or warehouse environments. Accordingly, inaddressing this problem and as used herein, the term “shippingcontainer” is intended to refer broadly to both the standard ISOmaritime shipping containers as well as highway-only trailers and thelike.

Within the context of the shipping containers 100, 102 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention improves communications betweeninternal and external communication devices in order to provide improvedvisibility of assets within the shipping containers 100, 102. In thisrespect, various keyhole communication devices 500 are provided thatimprove communications between the interior and exterior of the shippingcontainers, even when the shipping containers are stacked during storageand transportation or closely parked beside each other. In this context,the keyhole communication devices 500 of the present invention aredescribed in detail below and with reference to the various drawings.

Accordingly, FIG. 3 generally illustrates a shipping port in which anasset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shippingcontainers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 4 generally illustrates a warehouse in which an asset monitoringand/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers withkeyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciatedfrom comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 with FIGS. 3 and 4 that the keyholecommunication devices of the invention communicate not only with thesatellite 116 in the manner of the mobile gateways 51 of FIGS. 1 and 2,but also with the stationary gateways 50 in the manner of the WT readers40 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this regard, the keyhole communication devices500 of the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 communicate both withthe WT readers (not shown) disposed within the interior of the shippingcontainers 100, 102 and with various external communication devices,including, for example, the satellite 116 and the stationary gateways50. The keyhole communication device 500 of each shipping container 100,102 thus serves as a liaison between internal and externalcommunications.

Furthermore, as discussed in greater detail below, the keyholecommunication device 500 itself may receive, process, and transmitmessages intended for and authored by the keyhole communication device500 or, alternatively, the keyhole communication device 500 may simplyfunction as a repeater and pass communications to and from the interiorof the shipping container, repeating each message as it is received.Still yet, the keyhole communication device 500 may include operationalmodes. In the first mode, the keyhole communication device 500 mayreceive, process, and transmit messages intended for and authored by thekeyhole communication device 500, and in the second mode, the keyholecommunication device 500 may simply function as a repeater and passcommunications to and from the interior of the shipping container,repeating each message as it is received. The mode of operation also maybe remotely selected. For instance, if the keyhole communication device500 includes class-based (or common designation based) wake-up featuresas disclosed in some of the incorporated references, then the mode ofoperation may be dependent upon the common designation that is used towake-up the keyhole communication device 500.

The shipping containers 100, 102 of FIGS. 3 and 4 are now described withrespect to the exemplary shipping container 102 of FIG. 5A. In thisrespect, FIG. 5A illustrates an implementation of a network-connectedkeyhole communication device 500 attached to an exemplary ISO maritimeshipping container 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As more fully described herein below, the keyhole communication device500 is mounted on a part of the wall structure of the container 102 withone portion being disposed within the interior of the container 102 andanother portion being disposed outside of the container 102.Furthermore, while the keyhole communication device 500 may be mountedon any suitable portion of the wall structure, including a door, theceiling, the floor, and any side wall, it is frequently advantageous tomount the keyhole communication device 500 at a relatively highelevation on one of the side walls of the container 102. The higherlocation helps minimize interference during the above-describedcommunications with the WAN 112. In addition, it has been found thatelectronics devices are often subjected to excessive jarring, shakingand bumping when mounted on access doors due to the additional movementcaused by opening and closing of the doors and, thus, it is preferredthat the keyhole communication device 500 be mounted on a more stablestructure, such as on one of the side walls, in order to avoid anyunnecessary jarring, shaking and bumping. Furthermore, the side wall ispreferred to the ceiling and floor, as it is believed that the keyholecommunication device 500 would be less susceptible to damage if attachedto the side wall. Indeed, the housing components of the keyholecommunication device 500 preferably conform to and fit within theribbed/corrugated-shaped recesses of the side walls for added protectionof the keyhole communication device 500.

The keyhole communication device 500 as illustrated is disposed in atleast intermittent electronic communication with the WAN 112 by way ofany of a wide variety of technologies, including but not limited toWiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phone, satellite, and the like, or a combinationthereof. In particular, the keyhole communication devices 500communicate with gateways that provide access to the WAN 112. In theexemplary systems of FIGS. 3 and 4, the communication devices 500communicate with stationary gateways 50 and mobile gateways 51. Forexample, the mobile gateways 51 communicate with a satellite 116. Thesatellite 116 is, in turn, connected via the WAN 112 to the server-basedtracking and/or monitoring application 106, which is generally embodiedby a network server 118 and an associated database system 120, but othertopologies will be apparent to the Ordinary Artisan. Similarly, thestationary gateways 50 preferably include a centralized broadbandconnection to the Internet and WAN 112 for communicating with theserver-based tracking and/or monitoring application 106. Such a trackingand/or monitoring application 106 is more fully disclosed in theaforementioned incorporated references and is not further describedherein.

Various communication protocols may be utilized in the communications bythe keyhole communication devices 500 with the various gateways.Moreover, different keyhole communication devices 500 may have differentcapabilities for communications. In this regard, one keyholecommunication device 500 may include only Bluetooth or WiFi capabilitiesfor communicating with a gateway, while another keyhole communicationdevice 500 may include cellular or satellite capabilities forcommunicating with a gateway.

In any event, the keyhole communication device 500 comprises a two-waycommunication device that preferably communicates not only withgateways, but also communicates with additional communication devices134 disposed within the interior of the shipping containers 102. In anexemplary scenario, illustrated in FIG. 5A, the additional communicationdevices 134 comprise, for example, WT readers, each of which may furthercommunicate with WTs 136 that are associated with assets or items 60that are being shipped within the container. Alternatively, however, thekeyhole communication device 500 may communicate directly with the WTs136, as shown in FIG. 5B, provided that the keyhole communication deviceincludes the capabilities required for reading the WTs. Thecommunication devices 134 may be packaged within the packaging of therespective items 60, integrated into pallets of the respective items 60,integrated into the packaging, integrated or disposed within the items60 themselves, or integrated with the items 60 in any other matter asdesired. The communication devices 134 located in the shipping container102 also preferably form ad hoc class-based networks as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2; International Patent Application PublicationNo. WO 03/032501 A2 (designating the United States and published inEnglish); and International Patent Application Publication No. WO03/098851 A1 (designating the United States and published in English),each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In this regard, itshould be appreciated that the keyhole communication device 500 of thepresent invention may represent a gateway itself to the communicationdevices 134 within the shipping container 102, in accordance with theseincorporated patent references.

In this respect, the keyhole communication device 500 facilitatescommunication between the communication devices 134 located within theshipping container 102 and the server-based application 106 that islocated remotely from the shipping container 102. Specifically, data iscommunicated from the communication devices 134 to the keyholecommunication device 500, and the data, and/or data indicative thereof,is further communicated from the keyhole communication device 500 via agateway 50,51 over the WAN 112 to the server 118, whereat thecommunicated data preferably is stored in the database system 120. Thedata communication between the communication devices 134 and the keyholecommunication device 500, and between the keyhole communication device500 and a gateway 50,51, is accomplished in accordance with astandardized communications protocol, including Bluetooth and WiFicommunication protocols. Furthermore, the data may be communicated upona triggering event and/or in response to inquiries sent from the server118, as desired. The data also may be transmitted at regularly scheduledintervals, as desired.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another implementation of anetwork-connected keyhole communication device 500 in an exemplarymaritime shipping container 102 in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention. This keyhole communication device500 is implemented in generally similar fashion to the keyholecommunication device 500 described with regard to FIG. 5A. Moreparticularly, the keyhole communication device 500 is mounted on a wallof the container 102 with one portion inside the container 102 andanother portion outside the container 102. The keyhole communicationdevice 500 is at least intermittently in communication with the WAN 112,which may utilize any of a wide variety of technologies, including butnot limited to WiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phone, satellite, and the like,or a combination thereof. The WAN 112 is, in turn, connected to thetracking application 106 which is generally embodied by the networkserver 118 and the associated database system 120 shown in FIG. 6.

In this implementation, however, the keyhole communication device 500comprises a two-way communication device that is capable ofcommunication with other nearby wired or wireless devices 130, 132. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, several such nearby devices 130, 132 may bedistributed throughout the shipping container 102 or located nearby theshipping container (not shown). In this implementation, each device 130,132 comprises a sensor with which the communication device 500 isinterfaced. Alternatively, each device 130, 132 may comprise a remotesensor interface (“RSI”) with which the keyhole communication device 500wirelessly communicates, with the RSIs being interfaced with thesensors. The sensors may include, but are not limited to, temperaturesensors, motion sensors, humidity sensors, radiation sensors, videocameras, still cameras, microphones, electronic/magnetic seal sensors,and the like, whereby conditions, characteristics, etc. regarding theshipping container and/or the contents thereof may be monitored and/ortracked. If provided, communications between the RSIs and the keyholecommunication device preferably are carried out in accordance with astandardized communications protocol, including Bluetooth and WiFicommunication protocols.

Indeed, as used herein, the term “sensor” is intended to relate broadlyto many types of devices that are each in some way sensitive to thesecurity, integrity, configuration, condition, disposition, orientation,location, contents, or surroundings of a container 102. Thus, a sensorcan be a seal monitor that detects openings and closures of a container102. A sensor can be an inclination monitor for detecting theoverturning or tipping of a container 102 that should be maintained in aparticular orientation. A sensor can be a device or array of devices formeasuring state conditions of a container 102 or that of its contentssuch as temperature, volume, weight or mass, and pressure. A sensor canbe any activity-monitoring or reconnaissance device such as a camera, amicrophone, a motion detector, a light detector, and a broad-band RFsignal scanner. A sensor can be a device for detecting physicalpresence, asset movement, and tampering such as a pressure-sensitive padon a floor or surface, a switch on an access-panel, and an opticaldevice such as an infra-red beam device, or an on-board accelerometer. Asensor also can be a device that detects any hazardous material, such asthose that represent chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, andexplosive (CBRNE) threats. Such a sensor thus could be used to detectweapons of mass destruction within the shipping container 102.

The devices 130, 132 communicate, via the keyhole communication device500, with the server-based application 106 that is remotely located tothe shipping container 102. In this respect, the keyhole communicationdevice 500 facilitates communication between the communication devices130, 132 located within the shipping container 102 and the server-basedapplication 106 that is located remotely from the shipping container102. Specifically, data-including data acquired from the sensors of theshipping container 102 and/or data indicative of the sensor readingsfrom the sensors in the shipping container 102—is communicated from thecommunication devices 130, 132 to the keyhole communication device 500,and the data, and/or data indicative thereof, is further communicatedfrom the keyhole communication device 500 via a gateway 50,51 over theWAN 112 to the server 118, whereat the communicated data preferably isstored in the database system 120. The data communication between thedevices 130, 132 and the keyhole communication device 500, and betweenthe keyhole communication device 500 and a gateway 50,51, preferably isaccomplished in accordance with a standardized communications protocol,including Bluetooth and WiFi communication protocols. Furthermore, thedata may be communicated upon a triggering event and/or in response toinquiries sent from the server 118, as desired. The data also may betransmitted at regularly scheduled intervals, as desired.

Furthermore, as will be appreciated from the incorporated references,the implementations of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be combined, wherein thekeyhole communication device 500 acquires and communicates data fromcommunication devices 134 and from devices 130,132. Additionally, acommunication device 134 itself may include or be disposed in electroniccommunication with one or more sensors, such as those described withregard to FIG. 6, and sensor acquired data may be obtained from thecommunication device 134.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate side cross-sectional views of a keyholecommunication device 500 in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, wherein the keyhole communication device 500 is installedon a wall 508 of an exemplary shipping containers 102. As shown therein,the keyhole communication device 500 includes an internal component 502and an external component 504. In the illustrated embodiment, theinternal component 502 removably engages the external component 504through a screw-type connection by rotationally inserting, through anopening 506 in the wall 508 of the shipping container 102, a threadedmale fitting 510 of the internal component 502 into acorrespondingly-threaded female fitting 512 of the external component504. The internal and external components 502, 504 are thereby securedtogether on the wall 508 of the shipping container 102. FIG. 7illustrates the two components 502, 504 prior to their engagement, andFIG. 8 illustrates the two components 502, 504 secured together on thewall 508 of the shipping container 102.

It should be noted that any conventional manner of securing the internaland external components 502, 504 together that result in the externalcomponent 504 residing on the exterior of the shipping container 102 andthe internal component 502 residing on the interior of the shippingcontainer 102 may be utilized in connection with the present invention,and the screw-type connection is shown only as one possible manner ofachieving such a connection in order to provide an enabling disclosureof the present invention. Other manners of securing the componentstogether may include latching, snapping, adhering the two components502, 504 or their equivalents.

As will be appreciated, it often is desirable to maintain the integrityof the environment within the shipping container 102, especially withregard to interior temperature and humidity. In order to maintain theintegrity of the interior of the shipping container 102, sealing rings514, 516, formed from a resilient material such as rubber, arepreferably provided between each of the two components 502, 504 and theshipping container wall 508 about the opening 506. The sealing rings514, 516 seal the opening 506 in the wall 508 of the shipping container102 and at least reduce the amount of, if not eliminate, the moisturethat otherwise may pass through the opening 506 in the shippingcontainer wall 508. The sealing rings 514, 516 may further be made of aninsulating material to reduce the flow of heat through the opening 506in the shipping container wall 508 between the interior and exterior ofthe shipping container 102. Furthermore, one of the sealing rings 514,516 may be omitted if only a single seal is deemed necessary ordesirable in preserving the interior environment of the shippingcontainer 102.

Each component 502, 504 of a keyhole communication device 500 preferablyis made from a radio-frequency (RF) friendly material, i.e., a materialthat does not significantly impede transmission of RF energy.

In a variation of a keyhole communication device (not shown), the firstand second components are integral with each other and do not constituteseparate components. In this regard, an exterior section and an interiorsection (not shown) may be integrally formed together in a moldingprocess out of one or more RF-friendly materials. Additionally, theopening 506 in a shipping container wall 508 is preferably large enoughto accommodate the passing there through of the equivalent of at leastone of the sections (i.e., one or both ends of a structure similar tothat of the combined components 502, 504 as shown in their assembledstate in FIG. 8) for securing the keyhole communication device to theshipping container wall 508. The particular portion that is passedthrough the opening 506 may include resilient elements to facilitate theinsertion of that portion through the opening 506 and, additionally, toprovide resistance to removal of that portion from the opening 506.

In accordance with the present invention, the keyhole communicationdevice 500 includes an electronics assembly that is housed in one orboth of the internal and external components 502, 504. The design andimplementation of the electronics assembly depends upon thefunctionality desired in the keyhole communication device 500. Indeed,many different variations exist in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. Furthermore, In those keyhole communication devices500 in which the electronics assembly is distributed between both theinternal and external components 502, 504, then the internal andexternal components 502, 504 preferably further include electricalcontacts (not shown) that connect when the components 502, 504 aresecured together. These electrical contacts provide a datacommunications link between electronics located in each of the twocomponents 502, 504 of the keyhole communication device 500 as well aspower and ground connections between the two components 502, 504.

The components of the electronics assembly that are disposed within theexternal component 504 (i.e., the component of the keyhole communicationdevice 500 that is located exterior to the cargo area of the shippingcontainer 102) preferably include an antenna or antennas for wirelesscommunications with a gateway. Depending on the wireless communicationprotocol used by a particular gateway, the electronics assembly housedin the exterior component 504 may include, for example, an antenna forsatellite communications; an antenna for cellular communications; anantenna for WiFi communications; an antenna for WiMAX communications; anantenna for UWB communications; and/or an antenna for Bluetoothcommunications. Conversely, the components of the electronics assemblyhoused within the interior component 502 (i.e., the component of thekeyhole communication device 500 that is located proximate or within theinterior of the cargo area of the shipping container 102) preferablyinclude circuitry for sending and receiving transmissions via the one ormore antennas housed within the external component 504.

In this regard, it is believed to optimal to minimize the size of theexterior component 504 in order to reduce the likelihood of damage tothe exterior component 504 when, for example, the shipping containers102 are stacked during transport and storage. Accordingly, while itnevertheless is preferred to include antennas within the exteriorcomponent 504 for increased range of communication with a gateway, it isstill preferred to include the associated circuitry for such antennaswithin the interior component 502. For this same reason, the internalpower source for the electronics assembly of the keyhole communicationdevice 500 also is preferably located within the interior component 502.

With particular regard to communications by the keyhole communicationdevice 500 with devices within the shipping container 102 (i.e., withrespect to “internal communications”), the antenna for internalcommunications preferably is disposed within the external component 504,and the associated circuitry for controlling such communicationspreferably is disposed within the internal component 502. Moreover, tothe extent that the communications protocol with the gateway 50 is thesame as the communications protocol for the internal communications, theantenna and associated electronic circuitry that used for the gatewaycommunications is further used for the internal communications.

As a result of the preferred location of the antennas within theexterior component 504 of the keyhole communication device 500, itfurther will be appreciated that one or more of the antennas andassociated circuitry may be utilized to establish communications withcommunications devices, in addition to gateways 50, that are exterior tobut within the general vicinity of the shipping container 102. Suchadditional communications with exterior devices may comprise, forexample, the establishing of an ad hoc class based network with keyholecommunication devices 500 attached to neighboring shipping containers102. In this regard, each keyhole communication device 500 may itselfcomprise a node in such a network, as such network nodes are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027. Furthermore, as disclosed therein, classesand sub-classes may be established that are internal to a particularshipping container 102, external to a particular shipping container 102,or that include nodes both inside the shipping container 102 and outsidethe shipping container 102.

Furthermore, such additional communications by the keyhole communicationdevice 500 could comprise, for example, a communications path by which aneighboring keyhole communication device, that otherwise is not equippedto communicate with available gateways 50, or is having difficulties incarrying out such communications for any of a variety of reasons,nevertheless may communicate to the server-based application 106 via thekeyhole communication device 500 through one of the available gateways50. Indeed, in such circumstances, and in order to facilitate relativelywide area communications between such keyhole communication devices 500,each keyhole communication device 500 may include, for example, a WiMAXradio (not shown) for intercommunications between keyhole communicationdevices 500. In this regard, the exterior component 504 preferablyincludes therein the antenna for such WiMAX intercommunications, withthe associated circuitry again being disposed within the interior 502.In such an arrangement, communications may be relayed or “hopped” fromone keyhole communication device 500 to another until a gateway 50 orother WAN access point is reached.

The opening 506 in which the keyhole communication device 500 is securedmay be created when the shipping container 102 is manufactured, oralternatively, a conventional shipping container 102 may be retrofittedwith a keyhole communication device 500 in accordance with the presentinvention, preferably by forming an opening in a wall 508 of theconventional shipping container 102. Retrofitting shipping containers102 is especially beneficial in view of the large number of existingshipping containers 102 in use in commerce today.

Importantly, the opening 506 that is formed in the wall 508 of theshipping container 102 preferably includes a diameter of at leastone-quarter wavelength, and more preferably a diameter of one fullwavelength, of the radio waves that are used to communicate through theopening 506 of the container wall 508 with communication devices withinthe shipping container 102. In preferred implementations of the presentinvention, a frequency within the 2.4 Gigahertz (“GHz”) band is utilizedfor internal communications and, consequently, the diameter of theopening 506 in the wall 508 of the shipping container 102 preferablyincludes a diameter of at least 3, and preferably 13 centimeters (“cm”).Of course, the reception improves as the diameter of the opening 506 isincreased; however, container integrity is a very significantconsideration, and minimizing the size of the hole 506 is an importantfactor in preserving the integrity of the container 102 and, thus, apreferred diameter range of between 3 and 13 cm, inclusive, is specifiedherein when the 2.4 GHz band is utilized for such communication. Theprovision of an opening 506 having such a diameter maintains a highdegree of container integrity while at the same time facilitatescommunications in and out of the shipping container 102 when the antennathat is used for the internal communications is disposed within theexterior component 504 of the keyhole communications device 500.Positioning of this antenna within the exterior component 504 furtherenables greater range for communicating with communication devicesexterior to the shipping container 102 without loss of communicationcoverage into and out of the shipping container 102. Nonetheless, itwill be apparent that still-larger diameters may be preferred forapplications where improved communication reliability, greater range, orthe like, is desired or necessary. Moreover, it will be apparent thatdiameters larger than 3-13 cm may be necessary or desirable forcommunication taking place at lower frequencies, and that smallerdiameters may be sufficient for communications taking place at higherfrequencies.

FIGS. 9A-9D are block diagrams of several alternative arrangements ofthe elements of the electronics assembly in a keyhole communicationdevice 500, illustrating the relative disposition of the elementstherein. A first alternative electronics assembly 550, shown in FIG. 9A,includes an antenna 552 disposed in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500 and circuitry 554 disposed in theinterior component 502. In this arrangement, the antenna 552 is apreferably conventional short-range RF antenna. The circuitry 554 mayinclude a radio portion 556, a control portion 558, a battery (notshown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein the radio portion 556handles the transmission and reception of RF signals and the controlportion 558 generally handles all other functions. Given an opening 506of sufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to atleast one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength,of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening 506), theplacement of the RF antenna 552 in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500 permits the device 500 to communicatewith nearby gateways 50 and/or other devices, such as neighboringkeyhole communication devices 500, while still facilitatingcommunication, using the same antenna 552, between the device 500 andcommunication devices internal to the container 102. This arrangement ofthe electronics assembly 550 is preferred for its simplicity and lowcost, owing primarily to its single antenna/single radio portion design,but is generally unable to carry out wider-range communications such ascellular communication or the satellite communications illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4.

A second alternative electronics assembly 560, shown in FIG. 9B,includes a first antenna 552 disposed in the exterior component 504 ofthe keyhole communication device 500, at least a second antenna 562 thatis also disposed in the exterior component 504 of the keyholecommunication device 500, and circuitry 564 disposed in the interiorcomponent 502. In this arrangement, the first antenna 552 is apreferably conventional short-range RF antenna, while the second antenna562 is a specialized antenna for longer-range communications, such as asatellite antenna or cellular telephone antenna. The circuitry 564 mayinclude a radio portion 556, 566 for each antenna 552, 562, a controlportion 568, a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired,wherein a first radio portion 556 handles the transmission and receptionof short-range RF signals, a second radio portion 566 handles thetransmission and reception of longer-range RF signals, and the controlportion 558 generally handles all other functions. Given an opening 506of sufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to atleast one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength,of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening 506), theplacement of the RF antenna 552 in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500 once again permits the device 500 tocommunicate with nearby gateways 50 and/or other devices, such asneighboring keyhole communication devices 500, while still facilitatingcommunication, using the same antenna 552, between the device 500 andcommunication devices internal to the container 102. In addition, thesecond radio portion 566 and antenna 562 permit this arrangement of theelectronics assembly 560 to carry out wider-range communications such ascellular communication or the satellite communications illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, thus providing the ability to track and/or monitor thecontainer 102 and its contents when the container 102 is traveling orotherwise out of the range of one of the fixed-location gateways 50.

A third alternative electronics assembly 570, shown in FIG. 9C, includesa first antenna 552 disposed in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500, a second antenna 572 disposed in theinterior component 502 of the keyhole communication device 500, andcircuitry 574 disposed in the interior component 502. In thisarrangement, the first antenna 552 is a preferably conventionalshort-range RF antenna, while the second antenna 572 is also ashort-range antenna intended specifically for wireless communicationswithin the shipping container 102 as contemplated above. The circuitry574 may include a radio portion 576 for the antennas 552, 572, a controlportion 578, a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired,wherein the radio portion 576 handles the transmission and reception ofshort-range RF signals via either antenna 552, 572 and the controlportion 578 generally handles all other functions. This arrangement ofthe electronics assembly 570 is preferred for its ability to communicateboth externally and internally with separate antennas 552, 572, thusobviating, or at least reducing, the need for a wall opening 506 ofminimum diameter, since there is little or no need for wirelesstransmissions to pass through the opening 506. Furthermore, in a firstvariation of this alternative assembly 570, the circuitry 574 mayfurther include a second radio portion (not shown), wherein a firstradio portion 576 handles the transmission and reception of RF signalsvia the first antenna 552 and the second radio portion handles thetransmission and reception of RF signals via the first antenna 572.Still further, in a second variation of this alternative assembly 570,the long-range antenna 562 and radio portion 564 shown in FIG. 9B may becombined therewith.

In an additional variation applicable to one or more of the variousalternative electronics assemblies 550, 560, 570 shown in FIGS. 9A-9C,the respective electronics assembly may further include, as contemplatedhereinabove, a GPS receiver (not shown) for determining a geographiclocation of the shipping container 102, whereby data communicated to theserver-based application 106 may include locational data of the shippingcontainer 102 as determined by the GPS receiver. Such a keyholecommunication device 500 preferably includes a patch antenna for the GPSreceiver within the exterior component 504 and includes the GPS receiverwithin the interior component 502.

A fourth alternative electronics assembly 580, shown in FIG. 9D,includes an antenna 552 disposed in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500 and circuitry 584 disposed in theinterior component 502. In this arrangement, the antenna 552 is onceagain a preferably conventional short-range RF antenna. However, in thisarrangement, the circuitry 584 may simply include a radio portion 586, abattery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein the radioportion 556 is merely a repeater that handles the reception andretransmission of RF signals. The repeater function may be used toamplify and retransmit signals received from devices inside the shippingcontainer 102, nearby communication devices such other keyholecommunication devices 500 on or in adjacent shipping containers 102,gateways 50, or any combination thereof. Given an opening 506 ofsufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to atleast one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength,of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening 506), theplacement of the RF antenna 552 in the exterior component 504 of thekeyhole communication device 500 permits devices inside the container102 to communicate, via the keyhole communication device 500, withnearby gateways 50 and/or other devices, such as neighboring keyholecommunication devices 500. This arrangement of the electronics assembly550 may be useful as being even simpler and cheaper than the assemblyshown in FIG. 9A, but is limited in its inability to provide anyfunction other than merely repeating (retransmitting) signals into andfrom the shipping container 102.

In order to reduce unnecessary power consumption by a keyholecommunication device 500, each keyhole communication device 500preferably utilizes the technology disclosed in International PatentApplication Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1 for selective wake-up. Thistechnology is sometimes referred to as “tag turn-on” technology, theelectronics responsible for transmitting one or more appropriate RFsignals to wake up an intended device is sometimes referred to as “tagturn-on” or “TTO,” and the electronics in the intended device that isresponsible for monitoring for the appropriate RF signal or signals andwaking up the rest of the device is sometimes referred to as a “tagturn-on circuit” or “TTOC.” In accordance with this feature, a keyholecommunication device 500 preferably includes in the exterior component504 thereof the TTOC, including both the electronics and the antennathereof, for monitoring for the appropriate RF signal or signals andwaking up the rest of the keyhole communication device 500. In fact, dueto the sensitivity of the monitoring for the RF signal to wake up therest of the keyhole communication device 500, significant physicalseparation of the antenna from the electronics of the TTOC is notrecommended and, thus, the exterior component 504 of the keyholecommunication device 500 preferably contains both the TTOC antenna andthe electronics thereof.

It is furthermore contemplated that communication devices 134 locatedboth interior and exterior to the shipping container 102 will likewisehave the technology disclosed in International Patent ApplicationPublication No. WO 03/098851 A1 for selective wake-up of the respectivedevice 134 in response to an RF signal intended for that device 134.Accordingly, a keyhole communication device 500 equipped to communicatewith such devices 134 preferably includes tag turn-on electronicsincluding an antenna thereof. Furthermore, the TTO electronics andantenna may be contained within the interior component 502 if applied inan implementation that is “shipping container internal centric,” oralternatively, the antenna, and preferably the TTO electronics as well,may be located in the exterior compartment 504 if communication devices134 both interior and exterior to the shipping container 102 are to beawakened by the keyhole communication device 500.

It will be apparent to the Ordinary Artisan that the configuration ofthe components 502, 504 may vary widely but should generally be designedso as to fit within or around any particular contours of the wall 508 ofthe shipping container 102. Indeed, walls 508 of conventional shippingcontainers 102 often have a corrugated shape, and the components 502,504 should preferably have configurations that fit within or conform tosuch shape for a seamless fit therewith. Various differentconfigurations are illustrated herein. In FIGS. 7-8, discussed above,each of the components 502, 504 has a cross-sectional configuration thatis generally rectangular with rounded corners. Other exemplaryconfigurations are illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 10A disclosesa communication device 701, in which the internal and externalcomponents 702, 704 each have a cross-sectional configuration that issemicircular. FIG. 10B discloses yet another communication device 705,in which the internal and external components 706, 708 have differingcross-sectional configurations; in this regard, the internal component706 has a cross-sectional configuration that is rectangular with squarecorners, while the external component 708 has a cross-sectionalconfiguration that is trapezoidal, also with square corners. It will beapparent that any suitable configuration may be used for both theinternal and external components of a keyhole communication devicewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Many benefits are provided by the present invention. Indeed, one or morebenefits provided by various embodiments of the present inventioninclude, inter alia: the protection of electronics inside the shippingcontainer 102; the provision of good communications coverage beyond theshipping container 102 with the antennae being disposed outside of theshipping container 102; the provision of good communications coveragewithin the shipping container through the opening in the shippingcontainer wall 508; the reduction in power consumption due to the loweroutput power required to communicate between the interior and exteriorof the shipping container 102; the ability to position sensors, insideand outside of the container with minimal or no wired connections; andthe avoidance of single failure points.

Based on the foregoing information, it is readily understood by thosepersons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible ofbroad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of thepresent invention other than those specifically described herein, aswell as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements,will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present inventionand the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from thesubstance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while thepresent invention has been described herein in detail in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure isonly illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is mademerely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure ofthe invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construedto limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such otherembodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalentarrangements; the present invention being limited only by the claimsappended hereto and the equivalents thereof. Although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for the purpose of limitation.

1. A method for monitoring contents of a shipping container, comprisingthe steps of: (a) wirelessly communicating information relating tointerior contents of the shipping container, to a communication deviceattached to the shipping container, from one or more wireless deviceswithin the interior of the shipping container; and (b) wirelesslycommunicating information relating to interior contents of the shippingcontainer, from the communication device attached to the shippingcontainer, to a network external to the shipping container; (c) whereinthe communication device attached to the shipping container includeselectronics and at least one antenna, and further includes first andsecond housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of theshipping container, with the first housing component defining a firsthollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shippingcontainer, and with the second housing component defining a secondhollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of theshipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with thesecond hollow interior.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsthousing component of the communication device includes an antenna withwhich said steps (a) and (b) are performed.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the second housing component includes circuitry for controllingwireless communications by the antenna.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the circuitry is part of an electronics assembly.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the first housing component of the communicationdevice includes a first antenna in connection with which said step (a)is performed and a second antenna in connection with which said step (b)is performed.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second housingcomponent includes a first circuitry for controlling wirelesscommunications via the first antenna and second circuitry forcontrolling wireless communications via the second antenna.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the second housing component comprisescircuitry for controlling wireless communications via the first antennaand via the second antenna.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsthousing component of the communication device includes a first antennaby which said step (b) is performed and wherein the second housingcomponent comprises a second antenna by which said step (a) isperformed.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second housingcomponent comprises first circuitry for controlling wirelesscommunications via the first antenna and second circuitry forcontrolling wireless communications via the second antenna.
 10. Thecommunication device of claim 8, wherein the communication device isadapted for satellite and 2.4 GHz communications.
 11. The communicationdevice of claim 8, wherein the electronics assembly is adapted forcellular and 2.4 GHz communications.
 12. The method of claim 8, whereinthe second housing component comprises circuitry for controllingwireless communications by the first antenna and by the second antenna.13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component and thesecond housing component are secured together through an opening in thewall of the shipping container.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the communication devices within the shipping container isassociated with a content of the shipping container.
 15. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of sending a message from theexternal network to the communication device attached to the shippingcontainer that results in the communication device attached to theshipping container sending a message to a wireless device within theinterior of the shipping container.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe message that is sent to the wireless device within the interior ofthe shipping container results in the wireless device sending a messageto the communication device attached to the shipping container, andfurther comprising the step of sending, in response thereto, a messageto the external network from the communication device attached to theshipping container.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein one of thewireless devices within the interior of the shipping container comprisesa sensor.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises atemperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a radiationsensor, a video camera, a still camera, an electronic seal sensor, or amicrophone.
 19. A method for tracking a shipping container, comprisingthe steps of: (a) determining location information of the shippingcontainer and interior contents thereof using a GPS receiver andwirelessly communicating, by a communication device attached to theshipping container, with a network external to the shipping container,the wireless communications including information relating to thelocation of the shipping container and interior contents; (b) whereinthe communication device comprises first and second housing componentslocated on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with thefirst housing component defining a first hollow interior and residingsubstantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the secondhousing component defining a second hollow interior and residingsubstantially within the interior of the shipping container, the firsthollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior; (c)wherein the first housing component includes a first antenna and thesecond housing component includes the GPS receiver disposed inelectronic communication with the first antenna; and (d) wherein thefirst housing component includes a second antenna and the second housingcomponent includes circuitry disposed in electronic communication withthe second antenna for controlling wireless communications via thesecond antenna with the network external to the shipping container. 20.The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component and thesecond housing component are secured together through an opening in thewall of the shipping container to form an integrated housing structure.